86 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
may cite the character of the bark as already referred to, the 
presence or absence of sterile stamens, the arrangement, structure, 
and dehiscence of anthers, peculiarities of fruit, sections of 
petioles, and uniformity or otherwise of the number of stomata 
on the upper and under surfaces of the leaf. 
The “ Blue-gum ” ( E . globulus) is a lofty tree, remarkable for 
the quickness of its growth. In some parts of Europe it is 
popularly called the “ Fever-tree ” on account of its value in 
malarial regions. It rapidly absorbs the excessive moisture in 
marshy places, and freely exhales its valuable antiseptic oil. Its 
timber is of a very durable character, and as it is of exceptionally 
rapid growth it has been largely planted abroad. It owes its 
popular name to the bluish tinge of the waxy bloom that covers 
the calyces and the foliage of young plants. 
The “ Red-gum ” (E. rostraia ) prefers low-lying situations, 
and may usually be seen near the watercourses in almost every 
part of the continent. It takes its vernacular name from the 
colour of the timber, which for its durability in such places as 
are usually favourable to the rapid decay of timbers has 
probably only one rival in the Jarrali {E. marginata) of Western 
Australia. 
The gem of the genus from a horticultural standpoint is 
unquestionably E.ficifolia. Its strikingly handsome dark green 
foliage, to which it owes its specific name, forms a fitting con¬ 
trast to the gorgeous crimson flowers which this magnificent 
species bears in such profusion. Other brilliantly coloured 
species are E. miniata and E. Phoenicea, both of which yield 
flowers of a bright scarlet colour. 
The “ Sugar-gum ” ( E . corynocalyx ) produces sweetish foliage, 
which affords food for stock in seasons of drought. 
Time and space would fail even to refer to the many other 
meritorious species. In addition to the useful timber, many 
yield large quantities of the Eucalyptus oil, which is largely 
and increasingly used in medical practice. The result of a 
series of elaborate experiments seems to prove that E. amygdalina 
is far richer in oil than any other species. The Eucalypts 
claimed our first attention owing to their wide distribu¬ 
tion and the immense areas they cover, as well as for their 
towering height, their economic value, and, in some cases at 
least, for the unsurpassed beauty of their blossoms. However, 
